About Us
Welcome! Summer on the Hill (SOH) is a unique, year-round, supplemental enrichment program for academically talented, disadvantaged public school students in the Bronx, Washington Heights, and Harlem. One of the most sought-after programs in New York City, SOH bridges the gap between public and private education with stimulating, year-round, after-school classes and guidance on school choices.
SOH recruits promising public school students at the 2nd and 5th grade levels and frequently receives applications from hundreds more candidates than we can accept. The reason for this interest is that SOH is a successful, long-term program. Our dedicated staff works with the same students from the end of students’ 2nd grade year through high school – for as long as ten years. Housed on the beautiful campus of the Horace Mann School in Riverdale, SOH promotes student learning in small classes and fosters a sense of community in a safe and nurturing atmosphere. Students learn deeply and form bonds with peers, teachers, and staff to develop a confident outlook towards their future.
SOH is comprised of two programs:
| - | The core of SOH is its Grade 3-8 program, which is a six-year commitment for students and families. The Grade 3-8 program includes a yearly six-week summer session bridged by a mandatory Saturday academic year program for all students, and evening workshops for parents. |
| - | The High School Program offers an array of classes and activities to alumni of the Grade 3-8 Program. These include academic year SAT prep and academic review classes, college counseling, college visits, college admissions workshops for students and parents, additional college-readiness classes and activities, and mentoring programs. |
Our students: SOH welcomes boys and girls of all backgrounds who live in the Bronx and Manhattan above 96th Street, are nominated by their public school, and meet SOH admission criteria. Ninety percent of SOH students represent minority groups: 41% of students are of Hispanic origin, 34% are African-American, 12% are Asian (Far East, India, and Pakistan), 8% are white, and 6% are biracial or multiracial. Sixty percent of SOH parents do not hold a college degree.
SOH students have been accepted to Bronx Science, Fordham Prep, Horace Mann, and many other excellent boarding, independent, parochial, and public schools. SOH is represented at six Ivy League universities, and many private and public colleges and universities.
Student speaker at 8th grade graduation
Founded in 1994 by Horace Mann School administrators and an alumnus, SOH has now had an impact on the lives and education of over 650 students and their families in underserved areas of the Bronx, Washington Heights, and Harlem. SOH is a certified 501(c)3 organization that is supported by the generosity of private and corporate foundations and individual donors. SOH is deeply grateful for its gift-in-kind from the Horace Man School.